title: Yeast killer toxins, molecular mechanisms of their action and their applications.
abstract: Killer toxins secreted by some yeast strains are the proteins that kill sensitive cells of the same or related yeast genera. In recent years, many new yeast species have been found to be able to produce killer toxins against the pathogenic yeasts, especially Candida albicans. Some of the killer toxins have been purified and characterized, and the genes encoding the killer toxins have been cloned and characterized. Many new targets including different components of cell wall, plasma membrane, tRNA, DNA and others in the sensitive cells for the killer toxin action have been identified so that the new molecular mechanisms of action have been elucidated. However, it is still unknown how some of the newly discovered killer toxins kill the sensitive cells. Studies on the killer phenomenon in yeasts have provided valuable insights into a number of fundamental aspects of eukaryotic cell biology and interactions of different eukaryotic cells. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of their action will be helpful to develop the strategies to fight more and more harmful yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Unesco Chinese Center of Marine Biotechnology, Ocean University of China , Yushan Road, No. 5, Qingdao 266003 , China.
authors.forename: Guang-Lei
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Guang-Yuan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D002175:Candida; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast
chemical_list: D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast
keywords: Killer toxins; killer toxin action; killer yeasts; molecular mechanisms; pathogenic yeasts